I have a logjam on the printers right now with so many popular mods happening at once. Another printer is on the way to hopefully take some of the pressure off and get things moving. The X-men set is so large (so many brackets) that it will take quite a while to get stock made, but it is coming - you've seen the pictures of how it looks!

The mode light one has a picture of some of them under the playfield already. The individual lenses are far enough apart that they're just rectangular screens like X-Men. The B-O-O-M ones are square versions of the same thing. The multiplier cluster is unique to itself, but it mounts over the screw posts of the light board to hold it in place. I'll take a picture later this week and post it.

It doesn't. But it has some great lines. Maiden is still the player's pin.

Or if you're paperflock, 2022.

Caught up with all the Iron Maiden so Deadpool brackets are finally printing to start shipping tomorrow. I made some adjustments to Mystique, who I thought was too dark purple/lavender before. Now she's a purplish-pink more in line with the art on the playfield. I also have pictures of her backboard insert with the color to match the playfield insert mode:
Backboard_Mystique_sml2 (resized).jpgMode_Lights_Before_After_very_small (resized).jpg

And here's the install of the optional mystique lens in the backboard:

Mystique_backboard_install_sml (resized).jpg

Maybe it's under a specific set of circumstances that it won't start. I was in Berzerker mode a number of times the last few games I played.

Also, all the Deadpool light lens mods for domestic have shipped out. International should be today and then I'm completely caught up - finally.

Pumped to see pics of it installed - you'll likely be the first since they all went out together and you're closest.

All of them are very straightforward and easy to install except the Mystique backboard one, which requires 5 screws to be removed so you can get the frosted panel back there off, remove the screw holding the post with the light board, insert the lens bracket and then reverse everything. Give yourself 15 minutes for just that one.

If your friend's is resetting mid-game ("crashing") it may be a power supply issue. Spike is notorious for it. Have them check the output from the power supply and make sure it's strong at 48v. If it drops low in intense action like multiball, it can cause a spontaneous reset.

Ha! Pinkmonk!

Thanks for posting your install, it looks great!

I had an issue like you describe, but on the first O in BOOM. The hole for it was looser than the other three. I don't know if Stern is using power tools on the line and overdrilling the holes or what, but if you had it, too, maybe it's a thing. Toothpick end firmed it right up, so it wasn't a problem, just weird for an almost brand new Deadpool. Perhaps it's also due to the fact that the factory screws for those BOOM light boards are very short. If other people have the same issue, I may just include 4 #6 1/2" screws in the B-O-O-M kit. I resisted doing that to keep the price down, but if people want it, I'll just revise the kit and bump the price a few bucks.

Thanks again for posting this. I sent a bunch of Deadpool brackets out, so hopefully others post theirs when they get them installed.

Thanks for posting your install, that does look good! I don't know why they left Mystique white on the backboard when she's lavender/pinkish on the art, and her FRAME on the backboard is purple! The only problem is, now your white multiplier cluster looks naked.

Because of the different mounting situations it would be hard to make a bunch of generic colored brackets to mix and match. Just in that Deadpool kit there were like 4 different kinds of brackets, and T-Rex/Megaladon were sharing a single bracket because of the light board. X-Men is even more varied.

Given the amount of shaking and ball action, that body interior is WAY too hollow. It should have been solid, like they did for Iron Monger where they filled the hollow off-the-shelf toy design with epoxy to strengthen them.

Sounds like the machine is too flat. What's your playfield pitch?

When you buy a Gomez design, it will be clunky. That's all you need to know. He's the King of Clunky, especially in the modern Stern era.

I can believe you came to that conclusion. You have Popeye and Judge Dredd.

Software has improved, but the playfield has that trademark Gomez clunk. Can't get over that without physical changes, which aren't happening.

Oookay. Your loss, they ARE a fantastic improvement. It's not like I'm magically not going to have opinions about pinball. I have criticisms of pins I own, have owned or ones on the route I help with. Just because I own them or maintain them doesn't mean I'm blind to the flaws.

That said, I'll try to keep track of whether I'm in a club thread or not. Sometimes when I follow a notification, I answer posts without realizing what thread I'm in. No club likes a Debbie Downer.

debbie_downer (resized).jpg

I haven't tried it, but that's likely fixable by adding a washer to the back side underneath. Similar to the Williams Indy saucer fix.

Premium/LE is better. Game is a clunky shooter on both versions, but the Premium is a better overall experience. Maiden and TWD are all-time classics, so it's not above those. Probably just below Star Wars (which has come a LONG way since launch), IMO. Deadpool code has improved a lot.

I don't know that lightning flippers would help gameplay. Ball times would be shorter, but it might make the clunk worse if it changes the way you flip to account for the missing bit at the ends of them...

Start playing really badly. The game will insult you with that insert.

Is it dynamic on the system menu? (I'm not sure, but that would 'splain it)

Oh, haha! That was a joke. Sorry!

It does sound like something Deadpool would do, though...

The LE (and maybe the Prem since that's essentially the same game) seems to shoot a bit better than the Pro. They both have Gomez clunk, but the LE noticibly less so than the Pro. That alone is reason to get a Prem/LE IMO. The LE is quite a good-looking machine, too.

I'll define it for you and leave it at that. MB and LotR were a LONG time ago. Neo-Gomez is not classic Gomez. Batman TDK has Gomez clunk. Batman '66 has it for sure. Avengers has it. Deadpool does also (Pro more than the LE). Basically most of the 21st century Gomez designs have it. The issue is certain shots feel like they should make it but just peter out or dribble back (batman '66 left orbit is notorious for this). Play enough Gomez designs and you can FEEL it. That said, Batman'66 has shown that (eventually) great code can minimize the frustration with it, and Deadpool's code is coming along well so it may not be much of an issue in the end. But anyway, it's definitely a thing.

Are the dates on the Price is Right wheel for the match animation birthdays? There's a 1952 (don't remember the month/day offhand) a 1985 (1/29 or 12/9), and a 1974 (7/2/74) that I can think of for sure, but pretty sure I've seen others. Gomez is 1955, so it's not his (though it may be in there), and Gary Stern is 1945, so not him. They don't match up with people I thought of involved with DP, but I'm sure they're dates and probably birthdays. Anyone know?

Email terry at pinball life with the part number 830-8427-K1 and see if he can just order one for you.

After.

Service rails included:
https://sternpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Deadpool-Pinball-Features-Matrix.pdf

That said, the pro is a clunky shooter IMO. The Prem/LE is worth the upgrade.

What are you charging for the full armor and 4 legs? Do you strip the stern powder coating, or start from naked, uncoated parts?

Stern does - they have their ripoff version of a Cliffy they've been using since Ghostbusters that's crappier. That's what he's talking about, I think. The Stern ripoff one on his deadpool is deformed and he wants to put a real Cliffy on it.

Sounds like your drop target shelf plastic broke or the spring isn't strong enough. It used to be pretty durable, but is now a flimsy paper-thin piece of plastic that breaks pretty frequently on Sterns of the last 8 years or so because they've cost-reduced it for little apparent gain.

Here's where the ledge is located on the assembly (you'll need to drop from under the PF):
deadpooldroptargetledge (resized).jpg

Premium, for sure. It shoots better than the pro. The only issues I've really heard about is with li'l deadpool's head breaking off and two people (now maybe three) with the drop target shelf breaking so the drop targets won't stay up.

Cliff has these.

http://www.passionforpinball.com/WIP/Deadpool-drain-ejects-set-001.JPG

Email him.

Probably to keep the powdercoating from chipping.

Wide open from the factory.

The terrible spike fans are 34.6dB. Lazy is the only reason Stern still has them in their pins, Meanwell would TOTALLY put in quieter fans in their power supplies just for Stern's order if they were asked given Stern's volume. Anyway, as mentioned, I have a plug and play replacement, and that thread also calls out part numbers of you want to make your own. Less than 13dB when you're done. Worth the effort.

Stern's fault for releasing them that way, they got the rating they deserved. If they want to fix that, they need to stop this bare-bones code at release nonsense.

That said, Deadpool Premium/LE is now in my "recommend" column. Coming along nicely.

Deadpool Prem/LE has improved A LOT. It was a terrible placeholder for a long time, now it's actually fun. Once people get some time on newer code, they'll realize it's much more worthy of putting on a "buy now" list than Munsters or whatever code-starved pin Stern is throwing out currently. Have fun with Deadpool for a year or more while Stern's current releases complete development in the wild (which is not a fun period).

Hopefully Deadpool's next update has this system functionality just added to Munsters 0.98:

Added UTIL->SAVE and UTIL->LOAD which save and restore all game settings
to / from a USB thumbdrive.

LONG overdue.

That's detailed in the overall VERY lame 0.98 Munsters update (the system update is the star and like 70% of the text for the update):

When restoring the settings to the SAME MACHINE, you can choose to
restore:
"RESTORE ALL SETTINGS"
"RESTORE ALL ADJUSTMENTS"
"RESTORE ONLY STD ADJUSTMENTS"
"RESTORE ONLY HIGH SCORES"
"RESTORE ONLY AUDITS"

When using the saved settings with another machine of the SAME TITLE and
MODEL (for example settings file created on a DeadPool Pro and restoring
to a different DeadPool Pro) you can choose to restore:
"RESTORE ALL ADJUSTMENTS"
"RESTORE ONLY STD ADJUSTMENTS"

When using the saved settings with another machine of a DIFFERENT TITLE or
MODEL (for example settings file created on a DeadPool Pro and restoring
to a Munsters Pro) you can only choose to restore:
"RESTORE ONLY STD ADJUSTMENTS"

"RESTORE ALL ADJUSTMENTS" will restore the Standard Adjustments listed
below and all Feature Adjustments.

"RESTORE ONLY STD ADJUSTMENTS" will restore the following Standard
Adjustments:
Custom Message
Custom Pricing
Custom Coin Door
"REPLAY TYPE"
"REPLAY PERCENTAGE"
"REPLAY AWARD"
"REPLAY LEVELS"
"REPLAY BOOST"
"SPECIAL LIMIT"
"SPECIAL AWARD"
"SPECIAL PERCENTAGE"
"FREE GAME LIMIT"
"EXTRA BALL LIMIT"
"EXTRA BALL PERCENTAGE"
"GAME PRICING"
"MATCH AWARD"
"MATCH PERCENTAGE"
"BALLS PER GAME"
"TILT WARNINGS"
"TILT DEBOUNCE"
"CREDIT LIMIT"
"FREE PLAY"
"KNOCKER VOLUME"
"START GAME ON CREDIT"
"GAME RESTART"
"TIMED PLUNGER"
"FLIPPER BALL LAUNCH"
"COINDOOR BALL SAVER"
"COMPETITION MODE"
"CONSOLATION BALL"
"PLAYER COMPETITION"
"TEAM SCORES"
"ALLOW HIGH SCORES"
"HIGH SCORE AWARD"
"GRAND CHAMPION AWARDS"
"HIGH SCORE #1 AWARDS"
"HIGH SCORE #2 AWARDS"
"HIGH SCORE #3 AWARDS"
"HIGH SCORE #4 AWARDS"
"HSTD INITIALS"
"HSTD RESET COUNT"
"COIN INPUT DELAY"
"LOST BALL RECOVERY"
"COIN DOOR DISABLE TILT"
"TIME FORMAT"
"FAST BOOT"
"LANGUAGE"
"PLAYER LANGUAGE SELECT"
"PLAY ATTRACT TUTORIAL VIDEOS"
"ATTRACT MODE B.BOX BRIGHTNESS"
"GAME PLAY B.BOX BRIGHTNESS"
"SERVICE MENU B.BOX BRIGHTNESS"

Games will now persist ALL SETTINGS after a software update. This
functionality will be available in the game release AFTER the release which
uses system 2.24.

Deadpool's next update this month is supposed to be meaty, so looking forward to that.

I'm fine with a crap Munsters maintenance update if that means Dwight is completely rethinking the game (as Lyman did with TWD and Batman '66) to make it desirable. We don't have a dog in the fight anymore since we got rid of the one we had on location here. We'll revisit when Munsters has better code, which I hope it does. I REALLY like the theme.

Cut a clear plastic to a shape that will mount in the area you want (i.e. there are screws nearby), drill holes to screw into the heels of the figures you want to mount then put a flat-top phillips through the plastic into the heel of the figure. Then flip it over and lower the two (or more) holes you made in the clear plastic mounting plate onto the posts of the playfield plastics and screw your new mount on TOP of the existing plastic piece using the existing nuts.

You're basically making "army men" clear bases for your figures, then drilling holes in the plastic base you made that line up with screw posts to mount them to existing plastics posts in the machine so it's totally reversible.

PETG is more forgiving. Plexi tends to crack. It doesn't have to be super-pretty, I usually just grab something out of the orphaned parts bin and make it work.

This is not true. It may cause complications if there are other issues, but I always use a USB that has other stuff on it - just not older versions of the same code.

Did you unzip the files? You can't put the zip you download on the USB without unzipping the file. For deadpool, it will make a folder with two files in it when it unzips. DO NOT COPY THE FOLDER IT MAKES. Drag both of the files IN the folder to the root of the USB drive.

Secondly, if you DID unzip, did you use the windows unzipper? If so, that may be your problem. Try winzip instead. The windows unzipper has caused problems with update files before.

Lastly, try a different brand USB, formatted Fat-32. Stern machines can be picky about what brands/sizes they like.

As these updates continue to make Deadpool a much more attractive game to buy, and given the relatively weak initial sales due to crap software, it will be a hard row to hoe these days. Once word gets around how great the machine has become, I can see Stern doing a re-run, even if it's limited.

Oh, I was talking about the HUO camp - getting one less expensively from a home install. The tax thing is going to be painful for a while until we all have adjusted to the newly enforced pain.

Premium all the way. You'll never get the disco ball mode to work like the Premium with add-ons for the Pro, and it's a great mode. Also the Premium light show is better, and every Pro I've played shoots like crap - the Premium FEELS better.

No thanks. Hated it. The Pros I played were on locations, so maybe set up poorly, but they all were clunky. Plus, I've definitely grown to love the Prem/LE version's features. Wouldn't go back. With the new software, Deadpool Prem is definitely on the hot list.

Not one Pro, multiple ones at completely different locations in different cities. When I play a Pro that does shoot well, I will revise the statement. I was happy to revise the "Deadpool sucks" stance once the software really came along (The Prem/LE is now an excellent choice for a pin purchase with mature, fun software), and I'll do the same once I play a smooth Pro. Until then, I've only played a smooth Premium and a smooth LE.

And just for the record, this isn't my opinion alone. I'm not the only one that has had a clunky experience on the Pro and mentioned it here. It's not uncommon.

Deadpool is more of a fun dalliance now. Iron Maiden is more of a serious endeavor. I prefer Iron Maiden Premium, but I like Deadpool Prem a lot.

Depression support group.

It's really improved SO MUCH. The main thing that consistently still bugs me, but is a nitpick, is the eyes for the deadpool model Stern made AREN'T complete. The parts don't fill the holes right and there are bits where you can see through his head onto the background at the corners. Sloppy work. It bugs me.

Cost cutting on the playfield wood and pre-screen prep. Yay Stern?

It's MUCH more prevalent on Sterns now. MUCH. And before they used to give you a replacement. Now you get an "as designed" line and no replacement. More Stern cost-cutting, this time on PF wood and prep comes home to roost. At least the craters will eventually make it less the focus of attention...

We only have one on the route like that, and we get most every new Stern in at least for a while. But the number of people losing the Stern lottery are way up (and Stern's new stance on some pretty ugly examples is "as designed" now), so I can only assume that it's become more prevalent.

They've reinforced all their cabs since they started splitting once they cheaped out on the cabinet wood. But you're probably just feeling the weight difference between a fuller LE and a relatively mech-light Pro.

Yeah, I like that and the defender FX and the vintage TV music effect(s).

I wonder if that has to do with the sea air while they're being shipped or the fact that overseas are run first and get the "less practiced" early playfields.

Half-size. They're B/W style, but much shorter, less surface area. And at least the original run of Maiden Pros did NOT have them.

I would have just contacted Stern directly. Best results in general. Your distributor sounds kind of crappy though. Why don't they go out of pocket for a $5 switch to keep a customer happy? Who are they?

Did you get your Premium?

So, looks like a cable fell off?

Ugh. At least I'm not surprised. I was afraid you were going to spit out the name of a "good" distributor. I had two bad experiences with GrG, and that was that. Never again.

Sounds like a software glitch, since the Spike power supply problem only rears it's ugly head when a lot is going on (usually multiball) and the power supply can't quite handle it, dropping a smidge low and triggering a reset. But supposedly the system software was changed to address this.

$70 at pinball life, special order.

I'll spend your money anytime.

Just heard the country one today. I get the rap song the most.

jjPotC is AMAZING as a multiplayer pin due to the plundering mechanic that lets you steal score, gold, balls, and even other player's CHARACTER (and its perks). The best multiplayer pin experience I can think of just because of this one mechanic that keeps everyone playing involved. It's also radically different from Deadpool, so it would complimentary at home.

Was plundering enabled? It's what makes jjPotC multiplayer awesome.

THIS. 1000X this. The B-O-O-M lanes also have the same problem, with the light show effects turning off the actual status of the BOOM lights while the effects are playing, which is SUPER ANNOYING if you're one letter off from BOOM and really need it.

I have the inserts and flasher brightness turned down to 75%. Factory is too much.

Pinball browser, export the audio from the Deadpool rom.

With just one bug exploit and a little practice, yours can be too!

I guess you can spend the 9 months while the baby's in production to practice so you're ready to rock the exploit when the baby shows. That's a lot of work and a lifelong committment for a score, though.

Just to the right of the top spinner, and to the left of the top pop bumper, there's a stand up target at an angle. If you hit that hard enough and at the right angle, it will deflect up the ramp into the Katana. If you look at the target, "snikt" is printed on it.

snikt.jpg

We went with a Premium and installed the Pro translite. Best of all worlds.

Buy a square of bulk mylar from Marco Specialties. Cut a rectangle out of it slightly wider than the shooter lane and cut the middle like a pair of pants. Clean the shooter lane launch area well with rubbing alcohol, then lay the mylar down. I do this on all the machines that go out on route. Some get cliffies, too, but this is a $0.98 of protection that works very well.

5" wide x length
https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/66-MMFT

22" wide x length (this is what I usually order - so many uses)
https://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/66-MFT

Cliffies are thin metal protection armor for holes and edges of the playfield. The metal frames around holes on Stern machines for the last 4-5 years are essentially rip-offs of Cliff's idea and work.

Here's the deadpool shooter lane cliffy set:
https://www.passionforpinball.com/WIP/Deadpool-drain-ejects-set-001.JPG

Email cliff to get a price or order one, it may take a while. Last time I checked he was backed up almost 2 months with orders:
[email protected]

I'll grab one of the paper pieces for one of the shooter templates for a mylar shooter protector and post a pic. I have a stack of the backing paper you take off off the mylar before affixing it I've saved (for whatever reason, I dunno. I usually just make a new one...)

Windows built in unzipper has problems with Stern files for some reason. Use WinZip.

None of them come with the art blades except the LE, which has its own. The Premium and Pro are intended to use the red ones. I wasn't a huge fan of the red ones, but we got them anyway, and they actually look much better installed in person than in pictures. I don't think Stern will sell LE art blades à la carte.

AS long as you can feel the shots, it can be flowy with the orbit shots, the left ramp, snikt shot (which feels GREAT when you make it) and the Katana shot. The drops, "l'il deadpool", and turnaround shot are the momentum killers. Premium is still the one to have for Deadpool, IMO.

How much cash is in his hand?

If the deflector tight? Loose deflectors will cause rejects. But if it's loose on Deadpool you have bigger problems because I think it's welded to the assembly (without looking). You can also bend the deflector down a little so it makes a harder down guidance for the ball. But just a little, or the ball may not be able to get out!

Playfield angle too steep?

Lasly, I'm not sure how that hellhouse is mounted, but if it's like most you can put a thick washer under each of the back two corners under the PF before putting the assembly back on underneath to angle the back a little deeper and give the ball a better chance of staying in.

No, I'd do the minor scoop top bend first on this, too. I listed the washer thing last because it's a last resort.

Definitely. Gameroomguys should be your last resort.

Not great prices and bad support. You got a taste of the bad support, but not a REALLY bad taste. It can get worse. There are much better distributors out there to deal with. Almost anyone else, IMO. GRG are not pinball passionate like many dists are, they're just about the buck.

Stick a Pro translite ($70) on the Premium and you have the best of both worlds.

The Premium is really enjoyable to shoot with all the drop targets, the RGB light show, and the disco lights. Software still has a few rough edges, but is now very very good compared the the abysmal state it initially shipped in.

So has anyone matched up the dates on the match wheel with anyone at Stern or...elsewhere? Here's the ones I've seen:

12/29/1902 (2002? It's just an 02)
11/18/1950
7/11/1951
3/2/1973
7/22/1976
8/4/1977
7/7/1980
1/9/1986
3/28/1986

Hard to tell from the angle, but it looks like the kicker arm is kind of low. Is the left the same height? Maybe it's mounted wrong underneath?

Try removing the lights on that side one at a time until that stops. It's likely a bad bulb shorting out the string rather than the node board.

(Or alternately and more accurately, remove all the bulbs on that side and add them back until the behavior starts, then set that bulb aside and continue. This is the better method if you have two of more bulbs with issues. Stern uses cheap bulbs. SURPRISE!)

With the change to the Stern OS starting with 1.00, it (and all Sterns with the new OS already installed) saves automatically from 1.00 onward. Just did the 1.00->1.01 and the settings and scores were kept.

Mechsuit with multipliers is awesome.

1.0 has bugs that are annoying, too, like losing the regen without getting your ball back. I'd still recommend 1.01.

How hard would it be for the updater to make sure it's installing the correct package? This happens WAY too often.

Go into switch test mode and smack the playfield with an open palm firmly a number of places around li'l deadpool and see if the standup triggers. If so, adjust the standup.

That one cracked me up the first time it happened. Very unexpected.